The morning air was filled with excitement as Ye Chen woke up to the sound of hushed voices and the faint smell of something sweet coming from the kitchen. He quickly got dressed and headed downstairs, where he found Meixiu and Lianyi busy preparing breakfast.
"Good morning," Ye Chen said, yawning as he entered the kitchen.
"Shh!" Meixiu whispered, placing a finger to her lips. "Don't let her hear you."
"Who?" Ye Chen asked, confused.
"Jiayi," Lianyi said softly, glancing toward the living room. She wore an apron over her casual dress, and her delicate hands were frosting a small cake.
"It's her birthday today," Meixiu explained, cracking an egg into a bowl. "We're surprising her with breakfast in bed."
"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Ye Chen asked, feeling a little guilty.
"We wanted to keep it a surprise," Lianyi said, smiling shyly.
"Well, let me help," Ye Chen said, rolling up his sleeves.
Meixiu handed Ye Chen a bowl of batter. "Here, mix this. And don't mess it up."
"I'll try my best," Ye Chen said, laughing as he started stirring.
Lianyi placed the frosted cake on a small tray and carefully added fresh flowers around it. "I think she'll like this," she said, glancing at Ye Chen for approval.
"It looks amazing," Ye Chen said sincerely. "You're really talented, Sister Lianyi."
Her cheeks turned pink, and she focused on adjusting the flowers.
Meanwhile, Meixiu flipped pancakes with practiced ease. "All right, team effort. This is going to be the best birthday breakfast Jiayi's ever had."
Once everything was ready, they arranged the food neatly on a tray. There were pancakes topped with syrup and berries, freshly brewed tea, and the beautifully decorated cake.
The three of them tiptoed upstairs, with Ye Chen carrying the tray. Meixiu knocked lightly on Jiayi's door before opening it.
"Happy birthday!" they all said in unison as they entered.
Jiayi, who was still half-asleep, sat up in bed, her eyes widening in surprise. She wore a soft silk robe that accentuated her elegant figure.
"What's all this?" she asked, her voice filled with warmth.
"A birthday surprise," Meixiu said, grinning as she plopped onto the bed.
Lianyi placed a small vase of flowers on Jiayi's bedside table. "We wanted to make your day special," she said softly.
Ye Chen set the tray down in front of Jiayi, smiling. "Happy birthday, Sister Jiayi."
Jiayi's eyes softened as she looked at all of them. "You didn't have to do all this, but… thank you. It's perfect."
"Make a wish before you blow out the candle," Lianyi said, lighting the single candle on the cake.
Jiayi closed her eyes for a moment, then blew out the candle. "Thank you for this. It means so much to me."
After breakfast, they gathered in the living room to give Jiayi her birthday gifts.
"I'll go first!" Meixiu said, handing Jiayi a neatly wrapped box.
Jiayi opened it to find a luxurious scarf in her favorite color. "This is beautiful," she said, draping it around her neck. "Thank you, Meixiu."
"You're welcome," Meixiu said, grinning. "I have good taste, don't I?"
Lianyi stepped forward with her gift, a small handmade photo album filled with pictures of their family. "I thought you might like this," she said shyly.
Jiayi flipped through the album, her eyes misting over. "This is so thoughtful, Lianyi. I love it."
Finally, it was Ye Chen's turn. He handed her a small box, feeling a little nervous.
Jiayi opened it to reveal a delicate silver bracelet with a tiny charm in the shape of a flower.
"I thought it might suit you," Ye Chen said, scratching the back of his neck.
Jiayi smiled warmly and slid the bracelet onto her wrist. "It's perfect. Thank you, Ye Chen."
She leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek, her voice soft. "You're so thoughtful."
The rest of the day was spent relaxing and celebrating. Jiayi decided to stay home instead of going to work, much to everyone's delight.
They played board games in the afternoon, with Jiayi showing her competitive side.
"Are you sure you've never played this before?" Ye Chen asked, staring at the game board in disbelief.
"Beginner's luck," Jiayi said with a playful smile as she claimed victory.
"That's not luck," Meixiu grumbled. "She's just too good at everything."
Lianyi giggled softly. "It's her special day. Let her win."
In the evening, they surprised Jiayi with a candlelit dinner. The dining table was decorated with flowers and candles, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere.
"Did you all plan this too?" Jiayi asked, her voice filled with gratitude.
"Of course," Meixiu said, pouring wine into their glasses. "You only turn this age once, right?"
"Don't remind me of my age," Jiayi said, laughing.
As they enjoyed the meal, Ye Chen couldn't help but feel a deep sense of belonging. Jiayi's happiness was infectious, and the bond between them all felt stronger than ever.
After dinner, Jiayi pulled Ye Chen aside as the others cleaned up.
"I wanted to thank you again," she said, her voice soft.
"You don't have to thank me, Sister Jiayi," Ye Chen replied. "You've done so much for me. I'm just glad I could do something for you."
Jiayi smiled and placed a hand on his cheek. "You've become such an important part of this family, Ye Chen. I don't know what we'd do without you."
Her words made his heart swell. "That means a lot to me, Sister Jiayi."
She leaned in and kissed his cheek, her lips lingering for a moment. "Thank you for making my birthday so special."